IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 71

Values

Interpersonal

Social

Hedonic

Newbie

Lurker

Informational

Epistemic

Gift

Utilitarian

Novice

Insider

Leader

Passive

Active
Roles

Proposed Interrelationships
Fig. 1. Interrelationships between value elements and roles in DECs.

b) Hedonic (i.e., self entertainment);
c) Utilitarian Value (i.e., instrumental values); d) Gift (i.e., free public information); and e) Epistemic
Value (i.e., acquiring new knowledge). Moreover, this research
reveals that users in DECs can be
usefully classified as a) Newbies
(i.e., newcomers), b) Lurkers (i.e.,
non-contributors), c) Novices (i.e.,
beginners), d) Insiders (i.e., regulars), and e) Leaders (i.e., experts).
Interestingly, these taxonomies
seem to be greatly interrelated, as
graphically demonstrated in Fig. 1.
From our point of view, each role
is associated with certain value elements and vice versa. For example,
it comes into view that lurkers
might be mainly linked to gift and
epistemic value elements, while
leaders seem to be tightly related to
social value in terms of status and
self-esteem [3]. The examination of
these relationships is however the
next step of our research.
This study offers significant implications for both theory
and practice. From a theoretical

perspective, the originality of the
framework proposed adds a new
dimension of research in DECs,
and opens up opportunities for possible extensions and amendments
within this research area. This is
because the current study develops a comprehensive framework
classifying the potential values
driving users into participating in
DECs, and what they expect to be
achieved as a result. This study
develops an inclusive categorization of the various roles adopted
by users of DECs. From a practical
perspective, this research provides
important insights for:

IEEE TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY MAGAZINE

a) Service Providers in identifying their audience and knowing whom they are serving.
Furthermore, the results of this
research is deemed fruitful in
building strategic plans for a
sustainable healthy community, where participation and
engagement is continuous, and
accordingly, where policies
and regulations might need
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SprING 2014

reengineering for the sake of
supporting members;
b) Content Managers in better
directing the content plans,
content creation, and the overall flow of the community;
c) Users where they can exactly
know which benefit and value
element they would satisfy
when acting upon a certain
role and vice versa, depending on different situational
factors accompanied by every
person; and
d) Developers, as the results of
this research inspires them
in knowing and meeting
the exact needs of members
according to their different
behavioral roles, taking into
consideration the differences
in terms of value elements
affecting their behaviors.
This is important for developers as they are responsible
for the technical aspects of
the community, which indeed
affect its useability and
effectiveness.
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014